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Scabies: Using Medicines

Topic Overview

To successfully treat
scabies, all members of an affected household must be
treated at the same time. Follow these instructions when using medicine to
treat scabies:

Take a lukewarm (not hot) bath or
shower. Dry off well with a towel. Do not share this towel with others.

Apply the medicine according to your doctor's directions. In most cases, the medicine is a cream or lotion that is applied in a thin, even layer over the whole body from the neck down.

On infants
and children, apply the medicine to the scalp, face, and neck as well as the
rest of the body. Avoid the area around the mouth and eyes.

Trim
fingernails and toenails short. Brush the medicine thoroughly under the
fingernails.

Leave the medicine on for as long as your doctor recommends.

Wash the medicine off with lukewarm,
soapy water, and dry the skin.

Put on clean clothing, and change your bed linens. Wash all clothes, bedding, and towels used in the 3 days before you or your child started treatment. Use hot water, and use the hot cycle in a dryer. Another option is to dry-clean these items. Or seal them in a plastic bag for 3 to 7 days.

Do not apply the scabies medicine more often than is recommended by your doctor.

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